sprouts

happy first day of spring!  i thought it would be nice to share some pics that i took last week at

woodland gardens

.  i always love to see the tiny sprouts in their organized boxes.  soon enough they'll be in the field!

next week, i will share more views of the farm.

meyer lemon and mandarin tart

living in georgia we are fortunate enough to be close to fresh citrus.  my friend's parents have a meyer lemon tree and was sweet enough to share.

i was inspired by the latest issue of

sweet paul

and his lovely meyer lemon tart.  i couldn't resist making one of my own.....and adding some fresh mandarins and violas from the yard.  i served it up along side a big dollop of freshly whipped cream.  this one is a really simple and light spring dessert.

recipe- inspired by small paul magazine

ingredients

1 sheet of puff pastry

4 meyer lemons

2 mandarin oranges

1/2 cup raw sugar

a sprinkle of confectioner's sugar

instructions

-pre- heat oven to 400 degrees

-butter a cookie sheet

-roll out the puff pastry onto the cookie sheet

-thinly slice the citrus, removing the seeds as you go

-put the sugar in a bowl and dredge the citrus in it

-carefully lay the citrus on the puff pastry, overlapping a little bit

-bake in the oven for about 15 minutes

-let cool and then lightly sprinkle the confectioner's sugar on top

the southern foodways alliance

we have mentioned them before, but if you do not yet know the Southern Foodways Alliance, allow us to introduce you:

southernfoodways.org

for over ten years the oxford, mississippi-based nonprofit has promoted the South through its diverse food cultures.

not only are they working to preserve & promote our foodways, but the SFA has created a culture of their own through their gatherings and events that occur all over the country...

their fearless founder/leader, john t. edge, is a delight to know, and his written words are found in regular columns in the new york times, garden & gun, the oxford american, etc.

and the rest of the SFA support system (its staff, members, friends) are some of the nicest folks you will meet.

recently, we read their 'values' page from their website and wanted to share the link here, as it shares many wisdoms: SFA mission & values

and if you feel compelled, please join with them.

gettin' the hay

i helped my friend get a truckload of hay recently.  a huge, tin covered pole barn on the top of a hill.  a windy location, but shady and cool inside.

panther creek

the weather has been so nice all we have been wanting to do is be outside.  so, we packed a picinic and headed for the hills for hike.  we wanted to see a waterfall but the hike was 4 miles.  pre parent, that would have been fine but toting toddler most of the way seemed impossible.  we hiked for several hours and saw many bluffs, rapids, lots of moss covered stumps and rocks, and smelled the mountain air.  we loved this hike and will surely go back.

greens gratin

rinne recently turned me on to 

"an everlasting meal"

by former athenian, tamar adler.  it is a really inspiring and intimate approach to food.  a couple of years ago i read the book

"a homemade life"

and i loved it so much.  this is the type of book i have been craving.

the other day we made lunch out at our friends mandy and steve's farm.  i brought along a basket of fresh vegetables that i picked up from woodland gardens and this book.  this gratin recipe was a simple one and sounded delicious......and it was.

give it a try!

inspired by tamar adler's recipe for greens gratin

ingredients

2 cups chard, sauteed in olive oil, salted

1 bunch of spring onions, cut up and sauteed in olive oil

1 cup bechamel sauce (1 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp flour, 1 cup milk, 1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan)

directions

-cook the greens and onions separately

-melt butter and add flour heating mixture until mixed

-add the milk and stir over medium heat for 20-25 minutes

-add parmesan

-mix sauce with greens and onions and put in a small oven proof baking dish

-sprinkle some more parmesan on top

-bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until it is bubbling

alabama studio sewing & design

a little glimpse of something special:

this arrived in the mail...what a treat.

alabama chanin has created an inspirational how-to manual for those interested in creating garments and other sewn pieces using their techniques of embroidery, appliqué, & stitching. this volume builds on the ideas and concepts and thoughts of their previous books. it is an extensive, thorough compendium of ideas.

...instructive drawings and directions for the beginners or advanced creators...

find your own copyhere.

{full disclosure: i did contribute some photos to this project, so i may be a tad biased...but, it truly is beautiful!}

log out building

here's another old building moved and saved.  i don't know what it's use was, but i like it's style.